960418

50 AIDS cases

among 278 HIV

positive reported

in Sindhi

KARACHI: There are 50 full blown AIDS cases in Sindh among 278 HIV positive patients, revealed Dr Sharf Ali Shah, Director Aids Control Programme, Government of Sindh at a meeting of Aids Task Force and Experts Committee which met here on Wednesday.

The meeting was held to review the progress made to prevent and control the disease in the Province with the participating experts stressing the need for mandatory blood screening in the province to prevent the growth of this deadly disease.

Dr Shah highlighted the issue related to HIV/Aids situation in Sindh and pointed out that male/female ratio of HIV infection was 10:1 in Sindh in 1985 which has come down to 5:1 in 1996 and would be further slashed to 1:1 by the year 2000.

Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Senior Paediatrician, Prof. A.G Billoo cautioned that if HIV blood screening was not made mandatory in all blood banks then there was danger of outbreak of HIV infection among 50,000 Thalesemia patients in the next few years.

He said any delay in legislation for manadatory blood screening is enhancing risk for masses specially children who are constantly exposed to numerous diseases and complications.

He specially referred to risks involved for an estimated number of 50,000 thallassaemic patients majority comprising children who have no option but to rely on regular blood transfusion.

Additional Secretary, Planning and Development, Dr. Ghulam Safdar who presided the meeting agreed to form multidisciplinary bodies to work on various issues related to HIV. He also offered financial assistance to different organizations and NGOs involved in the prevention, control and education of HIV/STDs.-APP